The more steps you take, the more likely you'll live longer, researchers say

BOSTON - New research shows you don't need to go very far to reap the health benefits of walking.

We know that being sedentary is bad for your heart and increases your risk of premature death, but do you really have to walk 10,000 steps a day to improve survival?

Researchers in Poland analyzed 17 previous studies involving more than 220,000 participants and found that taking just 2,500 steps a day can reduce your chances of dying from heart disease and 4,000 steps a day can reduce the risk of death from all causes.

They did find, however, that for every additional 1,000 steps taken, the risk of death falls by 15-percent. In other words, the more steps you take, the more likely you will live longer.

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Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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